Taco Bell Tracks Down And Fires Employee Who Was Pictured Licking Food

In a statement on its website, the company said that the photos were taken during an employee training session and the tacos were not meant to be sold to customers.

"We do not believe these employees harmed, or intended to harm, anyone," the company said in the release. "But we deplore the impressions this has caused to our customers, fans, franchisees, and team members."

The photo was recently posted to Taco Bell's Facebook page and went viral on social media but has since been removed.